Barney Breen and George Dugdale have been appointed as joint-Managers of the Leitrim senior footballers for the next two years.
The former county stars had taken charge of the team temporarily last month after Mickey Moran was forced to step down due to ill-health. Both men were a part of Leitrim’s famous 1994 Connacht SFC success and we wish them every success in their tenure.
13-Dec-11 by Colette Fox – PRO
Leitrim GAA regret that due to health reasons their senior football team Manager, Mickey Moran has had to stand down from his position.
Mickey was in his fourth year as Manager. All in Leitrim GAA fraternity wish him a speedy return to full health.
26-Nov-11 by Colette Fox – PRO
FBD Insurance league 2012 fixtures
Section A
Round 1
Sligo IT v Galway, 7.30pm – Wednesday 4th January
Sligo v NUIG, 7.30pm – Wednesday 4th January
Round 2
Sligo IT v London, 7.30pm – Friday 6th January
Sligo v London, 2pm – Sunday 8th January
NUIG v Galway 2pm – Sunday 8th January
Round 3
NUIG v London, 7.30 – Friday 13th January
Sligo IT v Sligo, 2pm – Sunday 15th January
Galway v London, 2pm – Sunday 15th January
Round 4
IT Sligo v NUIG, 2pm – Sunday 22nd January
Galway v Sligo, 2pm – Sunday 22nd January
Section B
Round 1
GMIT v Roscommon, 2pm – Sunday 8th January
Mayo v Leitrim, 2pm – Sunday 8th January
Round 2
Leitrim v Roscommon, 2pm – Sunday 15th January
Mayo v GMIT, 2pm – Sunday 15th January
Round 3
GMIT v Leitrim, 2pm – Sunday 23rd January
Roscommon v Mayo, 2pm – Sunday 23rd January
Home Final – 29th January
Final – 7th October
Format for deciding League & Round Robin Format
Where Teams finish with equal points for Qualification for the Concluding Stages, the tie shall be decided by the following means and in the order specified, subject to Clause (d) below –
(i)Where two Teams only are involved – the outcome of the meeting of the two Teams in the previous game in the Competition.
(ii) Scóring Difference (subtracting the total scores Against from total scores For)
(iii) Highest Total score For.
(iv) A Play Off.
(d) If Disqualifications, Retirements or Walk Overs materially affect the outcome of the Points Totals (scores) in the League Stage of a Championship, there shall be Play Offs to determine Qualification for the Concluding Stages of the Championship, Third Level Colleges have first call on the First 3 Players from a County.
08-Nov-11 by Colette Fox – PRO
Connacht Senior Football Championship Draw 2011.
Quarter Final New York v Sligo Venue: Gaelic Grounds
Quarter Final London v Leitrim Venue: Ruislip
Quarter Final Galway v Roscommon
Semi Finals Semi Final New York / Sligo – — – — Galway / Roscommon
Semi Final Mayo – — – — Leitrim / London
10-Oct-11 by Colette Fox – PRO
The senior county footballers season came to an end last Saturday in Newry when Down defeated our young Leitrim team by 1-16 to 1-8. The scoreline doesnt do justice to a skillful and heartening display by our fully committed Leitrim team. In the first half they certainly held their own against last years beaten All Ireland finalists. The individual brillance of Benny Coulter and the Down teams experience and strenght in debth were crucial to their victory on the day. We wish them the very best of luck in their quest for All Ireland glory.
The Leitrim supporters who made the journey were fully appreciative of our teams performance on the day and we thank them for supporting the team so well in Newry and throughout the season. The Newry venue was fabulous as were the Down supporters who really made the travelling support very welcome.
Our players have now returned to their clubs and turn their attention to the upcoming club championships. We take this opportunity to thank the Leitrim players and management for all their efforts in the 2011 season. The defeat of Sligo in Markievicz Park was a special day for players and supporters alike and we CAN look forward to many more special days from this fine crop of players in the coming seasons.
THANKS LADS
16-Jul-11 by Colette Fox – PRO
AS PER SPECIAL CONGRESS MOTION THIS MUST BE ORGANISED ON A BLITZ FORMAT.
Top Team in each section qualifies for the final
Second Place Team in each section qualifies for Shield Final
Scóring difference shall apply for position.
Each county must submit their panel of players prior to the First Round and Players may not be switched from one panel to the other.
We most actively encourage all team managements to give all players an opportunity to play.
EACH GAME 20 min Per Half
Final 30 min per half
Section A:
|
Round 1 |
Sat. 16th July |
Venue |
Referee |
Time |
|
Sligo |
Mayo NW |
Castlebar |
P Daly ® |
12.00pm |
|
Galway CW |
Leitrim |
Castlebar |
J Glavey (M) |
12.00pm |
|
Round 2 |
|
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|
Leitrim |
Mayo NW |
Castlebar |
J Gilmartin (S) |
1.00pm |
|
Sligo |
Galway CW |
Castlebar |
K Connelly (M) |
1.00 pm |
|
Round 3 |
|
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|
|
Sligo |
Leitrim |
Castlebar |
M Flaherty (G) |
2.00 pm |
|
Galway CW |
Mayo NW |
Castlebar |
P Daly (R ) |
2.00pm |
Section B
|
Round 1 |
Sat 16th July |
|
Referee |
Time |
|
Mayo SE |
Roscommon |
Tuam |
J Molloy (G) |
12.00 pm |
|
Round 2 |
|
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|
Galway |
Roscommon |
Tuam |
D Moran (L) |
1.00 pm |
|
Round 3 |
|
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|
|
Galway |
Mayo SE |
Tuam |
B Byrne ( R ) |
2.00 pm |
|
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FINAL & Shield Final |
Mon 1st August |
Ballyhaunis |
|
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08-Jul-11 by Colette Fox – PRO
The Leitrim panel for the All Ireland Football Qualifier game versus Down this Saturday 9/7/11 at 3pm in Newry.
The starting 15 shows five changes to the team that lost the Connacht semi final against Roscommon. John McKeon and Daniel Beck replace RonanÓgallagher and Wayne McKeon in defence. Darren Sweeney comes in for Tomas Beirne in midfield while in the forwards division Colm Clarke and Brian McDonald replace Paul Brennan and Conor Beirne. James Glancy (Glencar Manorhamilton) captains the side from full forward.
1. Cathal McCrannÓgortletteragh
2. Dermot Reynolds Annaduff
3. John McKeon Drumreilly
4. Paddy Maguire Glencar Manorhamilton
5. Daniel Beck Mohill
6. Gary Reynolds Carrigallen
7. Barry Prior Aughawillan
8. Daniel Lowe St Marys
9. Darren Sweeney Glencar Manorhamilton
10. Robert Lowe St Marys
11. Emlyn Mulligan Melvin Gaels
12. Colm Clarke Drumkeerin
13. Brian McDonald Glencar Manorhamilton
14. James Glancy Glencar Manorhamilton (CAPT)
15. Adrian Croal Glencar Manorhamilton
16. Phillip Farrelly Ballinamore Sean OHeslins
17. James Glancy St Marys
18. Barry McWeeney Aughnasheelin
19. Ciaran EganÓgortletteragh
20. Shane Canning Mohill
21. Paddy McGowan St Patricks Dromahair
22. Paul Brennan Melvin Gaels
23. Conor Sheridan Melvin Gaels
24. Fergal Clancy Glenfarne Kiltyclogher
25. Conor Kelly St Patricks Dromahair
26. Christy McGowan St Patricks Dromahair.
Leitrim and Down meet for the first time in the championship with Leitrim still seeking their first win in the qualifiers. It leaves themselves and Waterford as the only counties still waiting for a qualifier win.
In contrast, Down made great use of the second chance last year, advancing from Round 2 of the qualifiers to reach the All-Ireland final where they lost to Cork by a single point.
THE VERY BEST OF LUCK TO THE LEITRIM TEAM AND MAnÓgEMENT ON SATURDAY.
06-Jul-11 by Colette Fox – PRO
The Leitrim team to play Down will be released on the website this Friday morning 8/7/11 at 8am. Throw in time is 3pm on Saturday in Newry. Hoping all Leitrim supporters will be there to support their team.
06-Jul-11 by Colette Fox – PRO
Raising the Bar.
The Qualifier Draw is done. Were off to Newry to meet last years All Ireland Finalists. You couldnt raise the bar much higher than that, so lets go. How often have we bemoaned playing the same teams year after year in the National League, wishing we could reach the higher divisions and play with the big boys. Nows our chance, so let us stop talking about a tough draw; about a typical unlucky call for Leitrim; about how it would have been better to be pulled out against London or Antrim or Offaly; about how a local derby with Longford would have been ideal – almost as if we should shiver at the thoughts of Laois or Meath. Or Down! Are Longford trembling at the thought of meeting Tyrone? Not at all, they are licking their lips at the prospect of being pitted against one of the best ever All Ireland winners. Should Leitrim feel otherwise? Dont go on about it being a pity we didnt get Down at home. Páirc Seán is not exactly a Leitrim fortress, we have been bushwhacked there several times; we could design a mural of close calls and last minute defeats on the boundary wall. In Markievicz Park just weeks ago the team played with abandon. The players seemed at ease, there were no hang-ups, they moved the ball quickly, they backed each other up, they went for scores, they were confident on the ball, they rallied when the pressure came on, they won! Everybody talked of a new Leitrim. We were a real part of the 2011 Championship story. Of course we were all wise after the game, saying we knew theyd do it. Loose talk. If we were that sure, wed have been kicking in the doors at the bookies to back them at the 5 to 1 odds. Suddenly we were oozing with confidence and for the game in Carrick we put little value on Roscommon, we were marking our diaries for the Connacht Final. Our plans became unstuck, there was no repetition of the flair displayed against Sligo, many went home disgruntled. We were out of the Connacht Championship and back into the Qualifiers. At least, after the first round games, we could be happy about something “we wont have to keep being reminded that Londons only Championship win was against Leitrim,” away back in the mists of 1977. We will be reminded, of course, that Leitrim has yet to win a Qualifier game and little time was spent by the analysts in predicting who will win in Newry. There could only be one result, Down. Thats what was forecast for their game against Clare too, but they only got out of Ennis by the skin of their teeth. Obviously Clare did not expect to win, as only a handful of die-hard home supporters bothered to turn up. Not a great Act of Faith in their team! A little self-belief is what Mickey Moran, Martin McGowan and Brian Breen will be drilling into their players as they prepare for Newry. Sure theres nothing to lose, just go out and play with the same confidence that they displayed against Sligo, forget about the David and Goliath references, seize the moment, make a piece of history. What an incentive it must be for the players to be lining out against really new opposition, a team that hit the headlines last year, that came so close to bringing Sam back across the border. Thats why every man in a green and gold jersey will be raising the bar.
30-Jun-11 by Tommy Moran
Under the Radar
In the weeks after the Sligo game Leitrim was very much in the spotlight, but now we are certainly back under the radar.
Nobody gives us a chance in the Qualifiers; we are written off; no hopers; doesn’€’t matter who we draw; the performance in Markievizc Park was a flash in the pan; Sligo must have been useless.
The nÓgativity is nearly contagious.
What a change from a few weeks ago when every Leitrim supporter stuck out his chest and couldn’€’t wait to see the Rossies get their come-uppance in Carrick. We’€’d show them and about time too.
This feel-good factor caught on nationally. Here was the makings of a great news story. Radio, TV, GAA journalists, feature writers, all wanted a slice of the action; none of them wanted to miss the boat in case Leitrim cruised into a Connacht Final.
Internationally, there was a buzz also. Phone lines, e-mails, texts, facebook, twitter and what have you were all busy. People who were a lifetime gone from the county and the current generation of emigrants, were all making plans, whether to be up early in New York or not to go to bed in Sydney on Sunday June 12th, because they didn’€’t want to miss Leitrim playing live on RTE. Not just highlights, the whole nine yards; for a pleasant change, we were the featured TV match. This was going to be Leitrim’€’s day in every sense of the word.
There was a pep in every step in the county, the recession was the last of our worries, all we talked about was the great win in Sligo and how the team had performed to a man. It was a great three weeks, the lift the GAA in the county needed, we had won a Championship game ‘€’ nobody went crazy talking about All Irelands, we just prayed we’€’d get to another Connacht Final, the team deserved that much, the supporters were happy and upbeat.
Some people say now it would have been better if we had to lose to Sligo. Rubbish. Nobody can take away that victory, nor the quality of play with which it was earned. How could it be better to have lost? For God’€’s sake, are we not bemoaning lost chances long enough? Putting up a good show and being beaten is not the way to go. Of course it was great to beat Sligo.
The RoscommonÓgame was admittedly a disappointment. We can wonder till doomsday about what might have happened if we had elected to play with the elements in the first half. With the wind behind us we might have started better, got a few early scores and then have got the chants of ‘€’Leitrim, Leitrim’€’ behind us also. As it was, the Leitrim supporters never really got into the game ‘€’ a charge we readily make against the players!
These same players that we back-slapped in Markievicz and that we might have disparaged in Pairc Sean, are still in training, hard as ever. That’€’s how it goes, they can’€’t switch off like supporters can. They are working their socks off, preparing for the Qualifiers.
Maybe it’€’s all the better there is little fuss. You never know what might happen if we sneak in under the radar again.
26-Jun-11 by Tommy Moran
Leitrim have been drawn against Down in the All Ireland Football Qualifiers.
Last years beaten All Ireland finalists have home advantage for the meeting
scheduled for the 9th of July. Down were defeated by Armagh in the Ulster
Championship and defeated Clare by one point in Round 1 of the Qualifiers.
Leitrim lost out to Roscommon in the semi final of the Connacht Championship
after their memorable win over Sligo in the quarter finals. The CCC have confirmed the fixture will take place on Saturday 9/7/11 at 3pm in Newry.
All Ireland Qualifiers (Round 2) – first named teams have home advantage.
Down v Leitrim
Limerick v Offaly
Laois v Kildare
Longford v Tyrone
Armagh v Wicklow
Meath v Galway
Antrim v Carlow
London v Waterford
26-Jun-11 by Colette Fox – PRO
The Day After
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Pairc Sean is quiet. It’s just the tidying up to be done, after the visit of over 13,000 spectators, the TV cameras, journalists, commentators and analysts, video operators, photographers, officials, stewards and all those who make up the framework of big match day. We have all left with our own thoughts of what happened and of what might have been.
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For Leitrim supporters there was the contrast of emotions with the unbridled joy of the win in Markievicz Park, when we all hugged and kissed and licked our lips with the thoughts of having the Rossies come to Carrick.
We owed them one and would take great delight in seeing them scampering back across the bridge, while we geared up for a Connacht Final.
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There was work to be done first, of course. While most of us focussed on another championship day out, planned for the weekend, arranged to hook up with the gang before the match, sorted the tickets, hung out the flags and joined in the razzmatazz, another group was really rolling up its sleeves and getting dug in.
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This group was made up of the Leitrim panel, team management, County Board officers, backroom assistants, medical and physio advisers ââ a combination of dedicated, committed, loyal and trusted souls who were determined to give of their all for the Green and Gold, just as they have been doing year after year, proud to be our representatives, whether in the FBD, the Allianz National League, a tournament, a challenge game, but especially in the Championship.
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Only those close to the scene can fully comprehend the effort made and rather than be critical of players, we should acknowledge that each of them gave of their very best. As the pre-match parade was ending, team captain James Glancy summoned the full panel on to the pitch, so that every player, irrespective of the number on their jersey, could link arms for Amhrán na bhFiann to show they were all very much part of the team. This was a nice gesture, a sign of the solidarity that exists in the squad.
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The game did not go well, the spark that was there against Sligo somehow failed to ignite, the plans to contain Roscommon against the wind and then turn up the tempo in the second half just never materialised. Even the woodwork went against us, when Cathal McCrann’s brilliant save from Donie Shine crashed off the post and into the net. On another day it would have rebounded elsewhere. Such is your sporting luck.
We were well beaten by a stronger side, by a team that definitely looks capable of retaining the Connacht title. To be fair, there was no taunting or triumphalism by the Rossies, but they certainly deserved any bragging rights. Next time we meet, Sunday will be forgotten and all will be back in the melting pot in the Hyde ââ a much happier hunting ground for Leitrim than Pairc Sean is turning out to be!
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There were others who worked hard to have everything right for Sunday and special praise must go to those who had the pitch and grounds in such peak condition, despite the most awful weather conditions. Many were busy preparing the Development Squads and Cumann na m-Bunscol teams. Kathy McLoughlin of the Leitrim Gaels Club had her own practicing to do, to be ready to lead the spectators in the singing of the National Anthem, a task she performed to perfection. The Glencar Manorhamilton Rince Fóirne group put in busy hours also and demonstrated just why they are All Ireland Scór Champions. There were preparations in Kiltubrid also, as the members of St. Brigid’s Pipe Band honed their musical and marching skills.
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Remember too the concerted efforts of the County Board officers, so ably led by Cathaoirleach Joe Flynn and RunaàDiarmuid Sweeney ââ so much unseen work has to be done and will continue to have to be done day after day, week after week, irrespective of wins or losses.
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Yes, Pairc Sean will be quiet for a day or two, but then the markers and the bollards and the water bottles and the footballs will be back again. As will the players, as they try to put the RoscommonÓgame behind them and set their sights on the Qualifiers. There is an incentive in that too. You never know, we might draw the winners of the Longford-Cavan clash and then the local rivalry would be as strong as ever.
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Some Leitrim followers could be heard muttering as they left in the rain on Sunday âÅNever againâÂ. They don’t mean a bit of it. Come the Qualifiers, their Green and Gold blood will have them on the road once more ââ sure the players never needed support more than they do now,
13-Jun-11 by Tommy Moran
